Among those in the radical Christian right, there is a mind set that the evil, librul mainstream media is bigoted towards Christians. Reinforcing their sense of victimization is their strongly held belief that the anti-Christian media would never treat Muslims with the same way. This is a common sentiment on any Christian "outrage" thread on Fox Nation and other right wing blogs. So it's not surprising that Fox News, the flagship "news" network for persecuted Christians and a venue for some serious Muslim bashing, would provide a platform for the meme of the media "double standard." Monday night, while promoting Christian "outrage" over last Saturday's SNL skit, in which a kick ass risen Jesus deals some death blows on the Romans, seminary drop out Sean Hannity also whined that the anti-Christian SNL would never disrespect Islam. Not surprisingly, he was validated by Fox Radio's very own "fundamentalist barking dog" Todd Starnes who is on a mission from God to expose those nasty Jesus hating, Mohammed loving heathens.

Hannity was full of righteous Christian anger about the "controversial" SNL skit which, caused "major outrage." Of course the "major" outrage was among the usual suspects in the extremist Christian right; but, hey, that's Fox News' major demographic, so I get the pander. The graphic behind Hannity's low foreheaded cranium was a great big Christian cross (very popular image on Fox) next to the logo for NBC with the Fox fact (not a Cavuto question mark) "Crossing the Line." He described the skit as a "trailer for a fake movie" in which Jesus "goes on a killing rampage." (The kind of thing that Fox Nation "Christians" wish Jesus would do to Muslims and liberals!)

Hannity, whose thinly veiled racism and hatred of Obama don't seem to be in accordance with the teachings of Jesus, asserted that this was "disgusting" and "offensive" especially because it's Lent. He mentioned that the skit, "DJesus Uncrossed," was based on the movie "Django Unchained." He didn't mention that it was done because the SNL host, Christopher Waltz, was in the movie which featured a man getting revenge on those who wronged him - like the Romans did to Jesus. After a video clip of the SNL skit, he went straight to the patented "Christian" whine about how this kind of thing would never be done about Mohammed. (Uh, because Mohammed's story doesn't include rising from the dead and thus, the skit wouldn't be as clever?)

Hannity's asked Fox culture clubber and observer of gay pride thongs and chaps Todd Starnes if this is a "double standard." Starnes who, when not ferreting out assaults on Christianity must be ingesting large amounts of Southern fried everything, claimed that Jesus "wants to be your lord and savior" and not "blow you to kingdom come." He asserted that this skit "is the worst example of anti-Christian bigotry on network television." Hannity reinforced the message by saying that Starnes "tapped into" the double standard. He wanted to know if the SNL writers would "go after" Islam. Julie Roginsky reminded Hannity that SNL is a comedy show. Not content with her answer he asked Starnes why Islam isn't targeted. Starnes accused SNL writers of being "cowards" because they won't put out a trailed, "Jihad Undetonated." (Starnes thinks that would be funny?)

Starnes continued to rant about media bias. Hannity cited the 1999 Virgin Mary dung painting and Andres Serrano's 1987 "Piss Christ" photo. Both of these things were in private galleries and not on national TV. Hannity, in whining about "double standards" brought up the violent Muslim reactions to media depictions of Islam and Mohammed. He accused SNL of not having courage for the backlash and wanted to know why it's acceptable to only go after Christians. After proclaiming that "it's open season on Christians in this country," Starnes, on a network that just bashed Wiccans, said that there's a sentiment that "it's OK to bash Christians."

Hannity asked what the response would have been if SNL did this to Mohammed. Starnes histrionically predicted that there would have been riots and the president - ready for it - would have called NBC. Hannity summed it up: "In other words, they can only offend one religion and not the other and they wouldn't have the courage to equally go after all religions so they're pretty gutless over there. They pick the one they can get away with." Starnes claimed that he has "a trail of evidence" to prove Hannity's point. When Roginsky advised them to lighten up, Hannity said he would be OK with the skit if everybody was "fair game." (So comedy has to be "fair & balanced" - like Fox!?)

So rather than actually discuss how this skit might be offensive, Hannity, in setting up a straw man argument, advanced the meme of Christian victimization by a media that supposedly shows preference to Islam. Jesus H Christ!!!!

Showing 19 reactions

Gee Whiz, Sean! Maybe if you had spend part of the past 5 years vetting SNL, instead of devoting every waking moment to criticizing President Obama, then maybe you could have nipped such outrageous comedy bits in the bud before they ruined the fabric of America. Are you ashamed of your country today?

This again is classic Hannity. Imagine if SNL did spoof Islam and one of the embassies were attacked on the next day, coincidence or not? He’d be screaming how the liberal media put Americans in danger. So, if they don’t touch it, they also get ripped by the likes of Hannity. Just shows how sick this clown really is.

There was a time not so long ago that folks on other media outlets were reluctant to insult and belittle Fox. As gruesome as Fox was, they did have a stick to wield.
Nowadays, that stick has been reduced to something about the size of Father Spanky’s Holy Weiner. (as opposed to Anthony Weiner’s weiner!)
It’s really fun to watch, isn’t it? (Oh, wait…..I don’t watch!)

As soon as I saw the SNL skit, I knew it would be on Fox. I agree with DD Tudor that it’s partly because most of the SNL audience comes from a Christian background. Making fun of yourself is more acceptable than making fun of others. I also agree with Morris that SNL probable wouldn’t make fun of Mohamed directly. It probably would like to, but doesn’t want to see embassies being stormed. It might not be fair, but that’s the way the world is right now. (Interestingly, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR,also criticized the skit, since Jesus is revered in Islam too.) However, SNL has criticized Islamic radicalism. On Weekend Update (2006?) Seth Myers said: “Christian and Muslim Britains joined forces yesterday to tell city officials to stop taking the Christianity out of Christmas, warning them that this simply fuels a backlash against Muslims. Also fueling a backlash against Muslims… Terrorism.“ SNL could also have been making fun of radical Christians who, as Priscilla pointed out, kind of do think Jesus would enact revenge. Coincidentally, shortly before the SNL skit, I ran across the following (quite heinous) website, which at first I thought was satire (still have trouble believing it’s not!): http://www.ministers-best-friend.com/CHRISTIPEDIA-TM—GUN-FREE-ZONES—Are—MURDER-EMPOWERMENT-ZONES—FIX-IT—PART-1.html (If you don’t feel like going to the site, here’s one quote from it: “BIBLICAL FACT: The LAST command of Jesus before going to the Cross was for His Disciples to GET A GUN! . . . (Luke 22:36)) (They say in today’s world, sword would mean gun, but more importantly they take the quote of context.)

Doors says “.. I would like to believe that Jesus has a great sense of humor and would appreciate a good joke…”

I bet that Jesus TiVo’s the 300 Club so after a long day of blowing field kicks wide and having sweat drip into the eyes of the teams/opponents of HIS chosen sport picks. And than having to attend all these Stadium Prayer Meetings and listening to the speakers blame HIM for droughts/forest fires/hurricanes/etc, because HE doesn’t like Freddie Mercury, and Pedophile Priests that were shielded by the SAME Church formed in HIS name ar….wait a second….I am being told that the 2nd part of my last sentence was NEVER mentioned as a cause of his Ire and Wrath..so lets just stick with the Jesus hates gays (Because, as is evident during Gay Pride Parades, no TRUE follower of Christ would be caught DEAD prancing around in a dress and collar, and just LOOK at the HATS. People like should NEVER be allowed into our Chu.r..c…h..e.s.).
So after a long day of listening to this shit, I’m sure Jesus and his Dad all sit on the Holy Curvy Couch with Jesus on the right side, as I have been informed by… lets say.. an unknown source, (the Holy Ghost) that Jesus CONSTANTLY yells SHOTGUN, and they all laugh their asses off to Pat Robertson, or as he is known there as, the Will Farrell of the Etheric Plane.

This was a hit of a different kind, but I still remember the “Sabra Price is Right” sketch from 1990 or so. Complete lampoon of Israeli salesmen, completely inappropriate on about ten levels, and really funny. Could someone be offended by it? Sure. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t funny. And that’s the basic rule that SNL at its best plays by.

There’s something pretty funny about a sketch from the late 80s with Phil Hartman as Orel Roberts meeting Charlton Heston as God. With Heston’s God having the opening line of “Did you bring the Money?” Inappropriate? Yup. Funny? Yup.

I have to admire the good humor of many religious people. Fred Rogers famously did not object to Eddie Murphy’s “Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood”. He saw the humor in it and didn’t jump to condemn it. One wishes that the more sanctimonious would learn from Fred Rogers’ example.

May I point out that SNL may poke fun at Christianity because most of their audience is from aone Christian tradition or another and “gets the joke.” Also, because they get such a satisfying reaction from people like those at Faux Noise. And, Christians are just too funny when you poke fun at their invisible friend in the sky.

These guys are tools for how comically they blow things out of proportion.
That said, I agree that SNL would not touch any jokes making fun of Mohamed. Christians are perceived to be weak and forgiving. Muslims are whackos when it comes to joking about their faith.
Is it any wonder who gets made fun of? We see the same behavior on school playgrounds. It’s called bullying.

To each his own of course, but I would like to believe that Jesus has a great sense of humor and would appreciate a good joke like any of us would and would tell Sean to relax and put your phony soapbox rage into those who only want to do harm to others.

kkklannity will do anything to keep his stupid sheep foamed up with hate. Convince the sheep that christians are being persecuted and do anything he can to implicate Obama any way he can and he’s got the sheep right where he wants them, ignorant and full of hate.

SNL has made fun of pretty much every religion on the planet over its history. That includes Islam and everyone else. There was plenty of this in the 1980s (I guess during the “Silver Age” of Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz – during the time when Dennis Miller did Weekend Update and Al Franken was doing the “One Man Mobile Uplink Unit” during the 1988 Presidential campaign.)

SNL also has had many moments of showing support for people of different faiths. I still remember Joe Pesci putting the photo of the Pope back together after Sinead O’Connor’s photo incident and saying “I would’ve given her such a slap!” That’s been part of SNL since the beginning.

BTW I remember a sketch from last year about Tim Tebow meeting Christ and being told that prayer is great but it helps to read the playbook too! Offensive, no. Funny, yes.